Here we are again. COVID continues to wreak havoc on couples’ 2021 wedding plans. After you’ve spent months planning the perfect wedding day, and perhaps already postponed once, the last thing you want is to delay (again).

Unfortunately, that’s an issue many area couples are facing as a resurgence of COVID-19 and multiple variants necessitates continued caution and mitigation measures. Unless you were planning a super intimate wedding, chances are you may be unable to even have all your guests present for your big day. So we’ve put together some quick tips for what to do if COVID-19 threatens to cancel your wedding day.

Pay attention to the news

It can be stressful watching the constant updates of statistics and hospitalizations, but keeping an eye on the latest coronavirus news is critical to deciding what to do about your wedding day. COVID guidance is rapidly changing, you will definitely want to stay up-to-date for the health of you, your guests, and your vendors. Unfortunately, as restrictions and continue to evolve, you may not even have a choice in postponing.

Be aware of cancellation policies

Pull out those vendor contracts and refresh yourself on cancellation policies. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to actually reach out to your vendors, either. Because no one ever counted on a pandemic, many vendors are offering additional flexibility with postponements than stated in their pre-pandemic contracts.

Re-visit your honeymoon plans, as well. Take a look at flight/ hotel cancellation policies and be aware of the deadline for cancelling. Put a note in your calendar to remind you and your partner to decide on travel plans by a certain date, so you don’t end up paying fees or losing a ton of money on a last-minute change of plans.

Consider wedding insurance

If your wedding isn’t until later in the year, there’s no reason to cancel right away. However, you may want to look into getting wedding insurance to cover some of your costs in the event you do have to cancel. A wedding insurance policy can keep you from losing tons of money on your vendors and venue when circumstances happen beyond your control.

Do look for explicit coverage in a pandemic. Some policies may exclude pandemics, making insurance nearly useless in this situation.

Plan for a smaller guest list

Use your wedding website to stay in touch with your guests and provide them with any updates. It may also help to give guests the opportunity to change their RSVPs in the event that they are concerned about flying. Be understanding if guests choose not to attend your wedding day and plan accordingly for a smaller ceremony and reception.

Order favors and other items well in advance

Many bridal gowns, favors and other items are manufactured in China and overseas, so shipments are backed up. If you are planning on ordering anything from outside the U.S., be sure to order well in advance and understand that the normal shipping time will probably be doubled. Or play it safe by opting for locally-sourced items or shopping for a wedding gown off the rack from your local bridal salon.

Talk to your vendors

It’s important to stay in conversation with your vendors throughout your decision-making process. Ask for their recommendations and explain your reasoning for postponing or canceling your wedding, if you decide to. If possible, consider having your wedding as planned—local businesses definitely need customers right now.

You could even live-stream your ceremony to guests who are unable to travel. It’s not ideal, but it’s definitely an option if you are far along in the planning process and don’t want to postpone.

As you’re deciding whether to continue with your wedding day as planned, the most important thing is to follow CDC and local and federal government guidelines. While it is frustrating and disappointing to cancel or postpone your wedding, the priority is keeping you and your guests safe and healthy.

We’re excited to be the Quad Cities region’s FIRST all-inclusive wedding blog and vendor directory! We are celebrating all things love in the QCA and helping couples plan their happily ever after!

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